West Virginia Wildlife from Eyewitness News

Venison 101

Educating the public to the benefits of venison.

September 30, 2009
Reporter: Patrick McMurtry
Videographer: Brad Rice

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This is usually something you'll only see in a butcher shop, or maybe a deer processing operation, but for the couple of dozen extension agents taking Venison 101 from the West Virginia DNR, cutting up a deer was up close and personal.
They took this informal class so they can teach others in their counties just how beneficial venison can be.

Brenda Porter, an extension agent from Cabell County, plans on putting what she's learned to good use.
"We're planning a Venison 101 in Cabell County. We have some tentative dates the end of October and we plan to make it a two evening workshop and hopefully that will be enough."

One thing Brenda and the others learned at this workshop in Morgantown is not to underestimate the level of interest folks have when it comes to putting venison on the table.

Cindy Fitch, an instructor for the workshop, says the response has been great.
"I think Venison 101, the inaugural year has been a big success. I don't think we'll be allowed to let it die.
Maybe next time we'll have a day and a half or two days. People would have liked to have cut some of that meat themselves and we'd like to make that happen."

This was the highlight of the workshop, but these folks also learned a lot about deer management and the impact the animals have on our area. But it all comes down to eating a nice tenderloin or venison roast.

Rick Sherman is an extension agent and says processing venison can help save folks money.
"Being able to use the deer that are taking food out of your plate, or your farm or home, you can use it for meat, process it yourself, save a little money and not have to pay the processing fee. Sometimes it's hard to get those animals into a processing plant."

Finding deer during hunting season is rarely a problem, and thanks to the Venison 101 program, many people who had no idea how easy it is to process a deer will be doing it themselves this year.